6 months ago
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The Kerala High Court connected Monday referred to the Chief Justice a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking documents related to the alleged golden theft astatine Sabarimala Temple.
A Bench of Justice C.S. Dias observed that the ED’s plea is connected to a lawsuit successful which a Division Bench had ordered a probe into the substance by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The ED had earlier submitted earlier the tribunal that the modus operandi showed that invaluable temple spot was illicitly diverted and its proceeds converted for idiosyncratic gain, thereby giving emergence to ‘proceeds of crime’ arsenic defined nether Section 2(1)(u) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Although the bureau had approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Ranni successful October seeking certified copies of the FIR and different details of the case, its petition was turned down, citing the ‘sensitive nature’ of the lawsuit and stating that the High Court was monitoring the lawsuit that was being probed by the SIT.
Bail plea
In the meantime, S. Sreekumar, a erstwhile Administrative Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) approached the HC, seeking anticipatory bail successful the case. He has been arraigned arsenic the sixth accused successful the case. He contended that helium took complaint successful July, 2019, and that the gold-clad plates had been removed for replating anterior to his tenure.
He further said helium had nary relation successful the matter, different than signing documents and mahazars connected the instructions of superior officers. The tribunal directed the nationalist authoritative to get instructions from the State authorities connected the matter. His petition has been posted for proceeding connected December 1.
